Strip straightening



L. A. FUGASSI STRIP STRAIGHTENING June 15, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 11, 1962 FIG. I

III I! '1 IN VENTOR. LUCIEN A. FUGASSI ATTORNEY-5'.

June 15, 1965 L. A. FUGASSI 3,138,845

STRIP STRAIGHTENING Filed July 11, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BYg A TTORNEKS cu I m 2' a; fig E u.

XL- g INVENTOR LUCIEN A. FUGASSI 3,188,846 STRiP STRAiGHTENlNG Lucien A. Fugassi, Pittsburgh, Pa, assignor to National Steel Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 11, 1962, Ser. No. 20?,128 10 Claims. (Cl. 72-483) The present invention relates to strip straightening, more particularly to methods and apparatus for straightening an end of a coil of strip material.

I A number of processing operations are normally involved in the manufacture of strip material such as steel strip. The material may be rolled to a lighter gauge then the customer as well as the manufacturer will handle it in coiled form.

Ordinarily, the above and other operations are not all performed on strip material travelling continuously 1 in a single processing line. Instead, the material passes in the form of a continuous strip through one or several of these operations and is recoiled prior to being passed through one or more of the other operations. Each time the material in the form of a coil is introduced into some work operation, it is ordinarily necessary to introduce anwend of the coil between a set of feed rolls at the entrance end of the processing equipment. But in the .case ofsteel strip and other resilient materials, the strip ihas'become arcuately bent and the free end tends resiliently to return to coiled position. Accordingly, in-

.troducing the free end of the coil into processing machinery is a rather difficult operation.

It has been proposedto straighten the free end of the coiled strip prior to introducing it into processing line,

and various methods and apparatus have been devised for doing this. Among these have been the devices set forth in US. Patents Nos. 2,179,461, 2,387,380 and All such prior art devices, however, have suffered from the disadvantages that they were difiicult to operate and did not make itpossible accurately to con- -trol the straightening process. Therefore, although these and many other attempts were made to overcome the dif- .ficulties recited above, none, as far as is known, was en- ;tirely successful when practiced commercially on an industrial scale.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention .to provide strip-straightening methods and apparatus that can be used in connection with existing installationswith a minimum of modification.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such methods and apparatus which will give an accurate control of the degree of straightening.

Finally, it is an object of the invention to provide .such methods that will be easy to practice with good control, and to provide such apparatus that will be relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, install,

maintain, operate and repair, and that will be rugged and durable in use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from. a consideration of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partly in cross section, showing the equipment of the present inven- Ltioninuse;

' FIGURE 2is an .elevational view of the left-hand portion of the structure of FIGURE 1, viewed from the ti an United States Patent FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross section on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, there is shown apparatus according to the'present invention, comprising a coil car or cradle car 1 movable horizontally in a rectilinear path along a horizontal trackway 3. Coil car 1 carries a pinion 5 rotatable about a vertical axis and driven through a speed reduction gear train by a, motor 7 on car 1. Pinion 5 is in mesh with a fixed horizontal rack 9 mounted on trackway 3, so that operation of motor 7 drives pinion 5 and moves car 1 along trackway 3. The drive from motor 7 is reversible for driving car 1 selectively in either direction along trackway 3.

Car 1 is conventional in form and carries the usual pair of horizontal rolls 11 power driven from motor 7, which are spaced apart and mounted on horizontal axes perpendicular to the path of travel of car 1 on trackway 3. Rolls 11 provide a cradle for a coil 13 which rides on rolls 11 with its axis parallel to but disposed above the axes of rolls 11. Driving rolls 11 both in one direction causes coil 13 to rotate in the opposite direction. As is usual, rolls 11 may be driven selectively in either direction. As is also customary, rolls 11 are bodily vertically movable as a unit relative to the remainder of car 1, thereby to raise or lower coil 13 at will.

Car 1 and the coil 13 thereon together comprise a device movable on trackway 3 toward or away from processing apparatus 15, the entry end of which is shown in FIGURE 1. The free end of coil 13 will be fed between a pair of superposed pinch rolls 17 that define between them a roll nip 19. Nip 19 and the axes of rolls 17 are disposed in a common vertical plane and are horizontal and parallel to each other. The usual uncoiler 21 is also provided at the entry end of the processing apparatus, in the form of a power-driven mandrel that rotates coil 13 as strip is withdrawn from coil 13 and passed through the apparatus. Of course, processing apparatus 15 can take any of the usual forms such as pickling or cleaning equipment or electrolytic or hot dip tin or zinc plating equipment or other forms.

The coils approach the entry end of the processing apparatus from the left as seen in FIGURE 1 and are wound from the center of the coil clockwise spirally outward as seen in FIGURE 1. Thus, there will be a free end of the coil exposed some-where on the periphery of the coil, and this free end will extend transversely of the coil. This free end will also lie against the next turn of the coil and must be peeled away from the coil before the end can be introduced into the processing equipment. For this purpose, conventional coil-opening equipment is provided in the form of an opener 23 which comprises a chisel 25 that extends transversely of the coil parallel to the axis of the coil and is operated by a fluid motor 2'7 pivotally mounted for swinging movement about a horizontal axis parallel to the axis of the coil on the framework of the processing apparatus near the entry end thereof. As seen in FIGURE 1, the function of opener 23 is to cause chisel 25 to pick off the free end of the strip and peel it away from the remainder of the coil. To this end, rolls 11 are rotated until the free end of the strip is disposed above the axis of coil 13 and preferably to the left of the vertical plane that includes that axis, as seen in FIGURE 1. In this position, chisel 25 can most readily engage under the free end of the strip. A hold-down 29 is also provided, which has a foot 31 which can be pressed down upon the coil by means of a fluid motor 33, thereby to hold the coil against rotation or other movement while opener 23 is at work.

The heart of the present invention is the provision of a bending bar 35 which is elongated in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of devices moving along trackway 3. Behdinghar 35 is horizontal, and is.

,isaeae reciprocable axially of itself between extended positions I in which it overlies trackway 3 and is disposed inthe path of devices moving on trackway 3 and retracted posh tions inwhich it does not extend over trackway 3 and in which dev ces can freely move along'trackway 3. Ex-

Opener 23 and. holddown 29 are then vertically retracted and car 1 is caused-to move farther to the right as seen in FIGURE 1 until the axis of coil lfiis in vertical alignment with the'axis' of un'coile'r 21; Uncoiler 21 can then be raised or lowered or coil 13 raised or lowered t until they are coaxial, whereupon coil'13 is introduced tension and retraction of bending 'bar35nare efiected by a ineans of a fluid motor 37, coaxial with bar 35, and mounted in horizontal position to one side'of the pathof- 1 devices moving along trackway 3. inlet and outlet fluid connections 39 by which either Fluid motor 37 has pneumatic or hydraulic iluidsrnay be introduced into the. cylinder ofmoto'r 37 selectively to extend. or" retract bar 35. To this end, fluid mot-or 37 is provided with a piston gnot shown) that carries at its right end as seen in FIG- URE 2 a horizontal shaft dl that terminates endw-ise in a guide head 43 that rides in a horizontal guide 45. Guide {-35 in turn terminates at its right end as seen in FIGURE onto uncoiler 21 inthe known manner and straightened free end 55 is introduced into nip 19. Between the straightening operation over bar 35 and the introduction of free en-d'd into nipi coil ifi is rotated almost 180 ee swi 3 93i. GURE l ,50 that ree end 551 'up and over the axis of coilflf beyond the vertical plane 2 in a further guide 47 that slidably receivesbendii'ig bar j as. The'adjac'ent ends of bending barns and shafts;

jareinterc'onnected for limited pivotal movementand for l m ted vertical movement relative to each other, but not for limited horizontal movement relative to each other, thereby {substantially to At its end 49' remote from fluid motor 37, bar 35 is rounded and is withdrawably received within a horizontalv eliminate horizontal play or lost motion between fluid mot0rj37 and bar 35.:

7 this invention have beenachieved.

of that axis until it is closer to} nip 19 than'is the axis'of coil 13, and of course is finally all theway'withinnip 19.

'This rotation of coil- 33. following backward bending over bar 3:3,may take place in the position of thelefthand coil ofFIGURE lfor when the axis of coil 13 is in vertical alignment with the axis of uncoiler 21, or when coil 13 is actually on uncoiler 2L From a 'consideration -of the foregoing disclosure, it will be obvious that all of the initially recited objects or" Although the present invention has been described and v illustrated in connection with preferred embodiments, it

will berunderstood that modifications and va'riationsmay be resortedto without departing from the spirit of the 'invention, as those skilled in this art will readily understand.

ly disposed socket 51 open at its end that confronts fluidmotor 37. Socket 51 is a horizontal cylindrical sleeve co axial with bar 35and has at'aperedinlet'end that con.

verges towardthe axis of socket 51 so as automatically to correct minor misalignment'of the axes of bar 35 and. p v Guide 47an'd socket :51 thus provide end supportsfor the extended socket El as bar 35 enters socket'Sl.

.1 7 Bending bar 35 is provided along its upper surfaces with sharp horiioiital edges 53 parallel to the axis of bar 35 and'extendin'g at least a major portion of the lengt-h thereof Edges 53 are defined by the intersection of the planes which bound grooves cut horizontally in the upper surfaces of OM35. I a In use, with bending'bar retracted, that is, in its extreme left position as it would; be seen in FIGURE 2', a dev'ice iiomprising a coil car 1 tvittra coil 13 thereonrmov'es from left tie right as seen in FIGURE 1 across theaxis of estat d bending bar 35 and intothe position shown in FIGUREI with its axis directly beneath theaxisof'holddown 29. Bending bar 35 is then extended to the position Such modifications and variations arev considered to be within the purview and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 7

- What is claimed is;

. "1. Apparatus for straightening an end of a coiled strip, 7 comprising a coil support movableon a trackway, a bend- 'ing bar, means for moving the bending bar back and forth between a first position in which the bending bar overlies -the trackway and 'is horizont ally disposed in a plane .;perpendicular to the trackway in the path or devices mov- ,ingon the trackway'a'rid a second positionin which'the bending bar is out of the path of devices moving on the .trackway, andmeans movable independently of the bar for-bending anend of a coiled strip. away from the coil and down over the bar thereby 'at least partially to straighten the'nd of the strip.

'12. Apparatus for straightening an end of a coiled strip for introduction of the straightened end into the nip of a pair of rolls, comprising a coil support movable on a trackway toward the rolls, a bending bar, means for mov- Jing the bending bar back and forth between a first posishown in FIGURE 2. if the tree or outer end 55 ofthe coil is not in the upper left quadrant as seenin FIGURE l, then rolls 11 of ear 1 are rotated until end '55 is in convenient position for engagement with chisel of opener 23. Opener 23 is then operated as previously de-- scribed, with holddown 2 9 engagingthe remainder; of the V coil, to peel the end 55 off the: coil and to move itcounterclockwise downward to the left as seen in FIGURE l,

that is, away from the. axis of coil 13- and away from nip 19 of rolls 17., sothat end 55 is disposed on the side of the" axis of coil 13 opposite nip 19. Continuedpressure by chisel 25 against free end 55 forces end 55 down into the position shown in FIGURE. 1 so that the curled end of: the coil is forced and bent backward over the extended, bending bar and engages the sharp edges 53 along the upper surface thereof. End 55 thus takes a bend opposite to the bend previously imparted'to it'by being wound in the coil, so that item be thus straightened. During the straightening operation, the edges 53, which in effect P vide narrow horizontal surfaces, serve the dual function 'assure that end 55 need notbeibentisofar cbackward over; 1 tbar 35 in order to straighten end 55; j 1' i of localizing the-bending forces-applied by barf35 onlend -55 and thus making-it easier to impart a set to endSS; than if bar 35 were smoothly cylindrical, and also :the function of reducing the tendency of end. 55. to slip on. bar 55 during reverse bending. V In other wordsyedge fi g position.

'tioninwhich the bending bar'overliesfthe trackway on the side of the coil support opposite the'rolls and is horifzontally disposed in a. plane perpendicular to the trackway in the path ofdevices "moving on thetrackway and a s'econd'position in which the bending bar is out of the path or devices moving on the trackway, and means movable'independently of the bar for bending anend of a coiledstrip away from the coil and away from the rolls and downjover {the bar ther'eby at least partially to straighten the end of the'strip.;. H

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim named means moves the bending bar along its axis.

4. Apparatus as claimedin claim 3, and means providing a socket in which the advancing end of the ,bar is-received and retained against substantial lateral movement.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, the socket being disposed on the opposite side of said path from sa d second 6 .-Apparatus for straightening an end of a coiled strip comprising, means. for moving. a coil along a predeter- 2, in whichthe firststrip and down over the bar thereby at least partially to straighten the end of the strip.

7. Apparatus for straightening the end of a coiled strip for introduction of the straightened end into the nip of a pair of rolls, comprising means for moving a coil along a predetermined path, a bending bar, means for moving the bending bar back and forth between a first position in which the bending bar overlies the path on the side of the coil opposite the roll and is horizontally disposed in a plane perpendicular to the path and a second position in which the bending bar is disposed to one side of the path, and means movable independently of the bar for bending an end of a coiled strip away from the coil and away from the rolls and down over the bar thereby at least partially to straighten the end of the strip.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim '7, in which the firstnanied means moves the bending bar along its axis.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, and means providing a socket in which the advancing end of the bar is received and retained against substantial lateral movement.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, said socket being disposed to the side of said path opposite said second position.

References (Iiteai by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,218,499 10/40 \Vood l5354 2,387,380 10/45 Zahutnik 24278.8

15 CHARLES w. LANHAM, Primary Examiner. 

6. APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING AN END OF A COILED STRIP COMPRISING MEANS FOR MOVING A COIL ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH, A BENDING BAR, MEANS FOR MOVING THE BENDING BAR BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION IN WHICH THE BENDING BAR OVERLIES SAID PATH AND IS HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED IN A PLANE PERPENDICULAR TO THE PATH AND A SECOND POSITION IN WHICH THE BENDING BAR IS DISPOSED TO ONE SIDE OF THE PATH, AND MEANS MOVABLE INDEPENDENTTLY OF THE BAR FOR BENDING AN END OF A COILED STRIP AWAY FROM THE COILED STRIP AND DOWN OVER THE BAR THEREBY AT LEAST PARTIALLY TO STRAIGHTEN THE END OF THE STRIP. 